The Secret VI is a four piece Death Metal/Grindcore group from Anchorage, Alaska. About a year after they formed, the group went into the studio and laid down the material for their debut full-length album, Eclipse of the Soul. Since then, there were some line-up changes, which prompted them to show off their new drive as a unit in the form of a brand new three song 2013 Demo. But, is this effort something fans of Metal, or even labels, will stand up and take notice of?

This effort was produced by Roy Z, who you may known from albums with bands like Judas Priest and Sepultura. Given the lineage behind this legend, it’s a sure thing this demo is going to sound great, and it soes. The guitars carry a heavy, bludgeoning tone with them that is complimented nicely nbu by the loud, crushing bass, and equally thunderous snares of the drum kit. The click of the bass kicks dominate through the mix, but the cymbals are pushed back a bit, though still fill the music enough with a crisp sound. The vocals find a nice range of gutturals and harsher rhasps, both at a level that isn’t too loud or low enough to be lost.

“Krist Murder” is a slower mix of Death Metal and Grindcore that hammers away with consistant drumming and guitars that sound more like a marching command than anything, though some riffs that follow show shades of Deathcore similar to groups like Oceano. Thankfully these aren’t long or overused, and there’s a decent amount of catchy, energy fueled passages that offer a hint of chaos to the assault. Some of these traits do show up in the following track, “Dying Revelation.” The charging, march-like bass kick fueled passages return, thogh the marching atmosphere is replaced more with a dismal, hopeless one that leaves you crawling on your stomach. The speed remains about the same, and there are some quicker, more technical Death Metal passages and bridges scattered about. The darker tone plays perfectly off the deeper tuning and distortions of the instruments, making an already uncompromising and heavy track evem more crushing by the slow-paced, loss-of-sanity styled riffs in the conclusion.

The only issue with those two tracks is that there really isn’t anything that stands out and grabs your attention, using the production quality largely to create a chugging, marching anthem of despair that has been done many times over. It won’t get old quick, but one listen to “Eternity” shows the potential this group has far better than the previous efforts. The music is a little faster with a strong Death Metal groove accompanying a grim, brutal atmosphere. The energy is felt all around, prinmarily in the blast beats and Grindcore influenced areas. However, it stands out most towards the end after the slower, bone jarring passage that wraps things up in a manner that “Krist Murder” should have had most of the song.

Overall, Demo 2013 by The Secret VI has plenty of promise. It’s a bludgeoning assault full of aggression and commanding orders, both lyrically and musically. The only issue is that the first two songs really seem to just rely on the atmosphere the music makes more than anything else. While it’s commendable, they end up rather simplistic and even a bit too patterned or expected. “Eternity” definitely stands out as the better of the three, offering a little more range from the group than charging, chugging passages. That being said, Demo 2013 is far from a bad release, and will find you enjoying plenty of repeat spins, though after a while may find that affection depleting just a litle.

01. Krist Murder – 3:1102. Dying Revelation – 5:0603. Eternity – 4:31

Initial Pressing Score: 8/10

Digital review copy of this release provided by Head First Entertainment.